Athletics Name Mike Aldrete as New Bench Coach
By Tony Frye
Mike Aldrete is trading in his bird patch for an elephant patch in 2015. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
The Oakland Athletics have announced that Mike Aldrete will be their new bench coach after the departure of Chip Hale who has signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as their manager as reported by Susan Slusser of the Chronicle. Aldrete will be leaving the St. Louis Cardinals where he has coached since 2008.
Here's the story on Aldrete, the new #Athletics bench coach: http://t.co/IBP9x8lQ9R
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) October 27, 2014
Mike Aldrete was an early speculation for many Athletics analysts with his close ties to the area. Aldrete, who was a seventh round draft pick by the San Francisco Giants in 1983 for whom he played for three seasons, graduated from Stanford, spent three seasons wearing the green and gold where he had a .250 batting average and .344 on base percentage, and currently lives in Carmel.
More from White Cleat Beat
- Oakland A’s giving Drew Rucinski a chance to prove himself
- The pain of the Oakland A’s first round draft picks
- David MacKinnon joins Oakland A’s alumni overseas
- Oakland A’s select Walker Jenkins in first MLB mock draft
- Cody Thomas worth Oakland A’s hanging on to
During his 10 year professional career, Mike Aldrete hit 41 home runs and had a .263 AVG and .356 OBP.
Bob Melvin has a long relationship with Mike Aldrete. Both men played for the Giants in 1986, 1987, and 1988 and Aldrete was the first base coach during Melvin’s tenure as manager for the Seattle Mariners as well as bench coach for two of Melvin’s years with the Diamondbacks.
With their paths crossing so frequently, it is safe to assume that Melvin and Aldrete will work well together and clearly have a mutual respect for one another.
The Athletics have not announced a candidate for hitting coach which was vacated by Chili Davis last week but several names are circulating the rumor mill. Regardless of who gets the nod, 2015’s coaching staff will look very different but is on its way to being just as strong, if not better, and philosophically similar to the past three seasons.
Welcome back to Oakland Mike Aldrete!